Reconstructions of the victim; likeness of victim's shoe.
Identified...Identified...Identified
Reconstructions of the victim; likeness of victim's shoe.
Date of Discovery: April 13, 1977
Location of Discovery: Tofield, Alberta, Canada
Estimated Date of Death: Months prior
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Cause of Death: Homicide
Estimated Age: 26-40 years old
Race: Native American with possible Caucasian admixture
Sex: Male
Height: 5'5" to 5'7" or 168cm
Weight: 145-165 lbs. or 70kg
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Medium build. Right-handed. He likely suffered an illness around the age of five.
Dentals: Available. He all of his teeth, some fillings, and noticeable recent dental work.
Fingerprints:Not available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing: Blue Levi work shirt with snap buttons, gray T-shirt, blue jeans, gray wool socks, brown imitation Wallabee shoes.
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Residents searching an abandoned 1.8-metre-deep septic tank to retrieve a pump discovered the victim's decomposing remains. The victim had been rolled up in a yellow bedsheet tied with nylon rope and thrown head-first into the septic tank.
An autopsy revealed that he had been shot several times, burned with a blowtorch and cigarettes, beaten, and sexually mutilated. His body was then covered in limestone.
Police suspect the killer(s) was familiar with the area given the rural location of the abandoned and derelict property.
Based upon the victim's clothing, it is suspected that he was a farm laborer or construction worker and was likely not from Alberta. He was nicknamed "Septic Tank Sam" by investigators and laid to rest in an unmarked, pauper's grave in an Edmonton Cemetery.
Agency Name: Chief Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 780-427-4987 or toll-free within the province of Alberta at 310-0000
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: ME: 7690-77; LE: 77-001-38 / 2012502446
NCMPUR Case Number: 2014001122
Canadian Unsolved Crimes
Edmonton Journal
National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains
The Globe and Mail News Archive
Edmonton Sun News Archive (September 3, 2007)
The Vancouver Sun News Archive (September 27, 1980)
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 12/23/17
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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